Old Trafford is going Ashes crazy as tickets for cricket’s showpiece event are being snapped up in their thousands.

Seats for England’s clash with their arch-rivals Australia in August next year don’t go on open sale until tomorrow, but tickets went on priority sale last month to Lancashire members and people who had bought tickets for this year’s international matches at Old Trafford.

Such has been the demand already for the chance to see Red Rose hero Jimmy Anderson take on the Aussies, the opening three days look set to be 25,000 sell-outs. And Lancashire have drafted in extra resources to cope with the huge demand expected over the next few days as the hottest tickets in town go on sale to the general public.

“The interest we have had has been staggering,” said Lancashire commercial director Geoff Durbin.

“Already, we don’t have many tickets left for the Saturday of the Ashes Test and we expect the remaining few to go very, very quickly.

“And sales for the Thursday and the Friday are not far behind.

“All we are asking is that people bear with us because of the amazing demand for tickets.”

Next year’s clash, which starts on August 1, is the first Ashes Test at Old Trafford since 2005 when an estimated 20,000 were locked out on the final day as a packed ground saw Australia hold out for a thrilling draw. Cricket: England’s World Cup hopes dashed

Since then, Lancashire have spent £44m in redeveloping the world-famous stadium – work on which will be finished in time for the Test – as well as battling a court case over planning permission which almost brought the club to its knees.

“The interest we have had in the Ashes proves to us we were right to fight as hard as we did to bring them back to this region,” added Durbin. “First and foremost, this is a hotbed of cricket and people in this area deserve to see the Ashes.

“But it is also a massive event which will generate several millions of pounds for the area.

“During the fight to bring the Ashes back, I had an image in my mind of parents and children waiting in line on that final day of the Ashes in 2005. Unfortunately, many of them couldn’t get in.

“Those kids will be grown up now and, hopefully, they will be able to return to Old Trafford next year as adults to finally see an Ashes Test.”

Lancashire’s new chief executive Daniel Gidney will join the club on November 5.